Zdeněk Hnát (born 25 October 1935) is a
Czech classical pianist, known especially for his interpretations of
Czech music
Music of the Czech Republic comprises the musical traditions of that state or the historical entities of which it is compound, i.e. the Czech lands (Bohemia, Moravia, Czech Silesia). Czech music also constitutes a substantial part of the music c ...
and
chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numb ...
.
Hnat was born in
Liberec
Liberec (; german: Reichenberg ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 103,000 inhabitants and it is the fifth-largest city in the country. It lies on the Lusatian Neisse, in a basin surrounded by mountains. The city centre is well preser ...
,
Czech Republic. He studied piano with
Ilona Štěpánová-Kurzová in
Prague, and
Heinrich Neuhaus (the latter at the
Moscow Conservatory). He won numerous prizes, including First Prize at the
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring ( cs, Pražské jaro, sk, Pražská jar) was a period of political liberalization and mass protest in
the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. It began on 5 January 1968, when reformist Alexander Dubček was elected First Sec ...
Competition in 1957.
He has made many broadcast and LP recordings, most of which have not yet been reissued on CD. The most celebrated records were those of
Beethoven Hammerclavier Sonata, music by
Prokofiev,
Scriabin, works by Czech composers and chamber works. He appeared on stage in many important venues all around the world. Throughout his whole artistic career, he both performed and taught. He first taught at the
Prague Conservatory and later at the
Janáček Academy of Music, for a long time also as a headmaster of the Piano Department. He also appeared as a member of faculty at the "International
Kubalek Piano Courses".
In 2006 he announced his retirement from the pedagogical life due to health reasons, but continues performing giving recitals in
Prague and other cities of his homeland.
External links
* Biographies in Czech
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hnat, Zdenek
1935 births
Living people
Czech pianists
Musicians from Liberec
Academic staff of the Prague Conservatory
21st-century pianists